Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06Q—DECORATING TEXTILES
  • D06Q1/00—Decorating textiles
  • D06Q1/12—Decorating textiles by transferring a chemical agent or a metallic or non-metallic material in particulate or other form, from a solid temporary carrier to the textile
  • D06Q1/14—Decorating textiles by transferring a chemical agent or a metallic or non-metallic material in particulate or other form, from a solid temporary carrier to the textile by transferring fibres, or adhesives for fibres, to the textile
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06N—WALL, FLOOR, OR LIKE COVERING MATERIALS, e.g. LINOLEUM, OILCLOTH, ARTIFICIAL LEATHER, ROOFING FELT, CONSISTING OF A FIBROUS WEB COATED WITH A LAYER OF MACROMOLECULAR MATERIAL; FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06N3/00—Artificial leather, oilcloth or other material obtained by covering fibrous webs with macromolecular material, e.g. resins, rubber or derivatives thereof
  • D06N3/04—Artificial leather, oilcloth or other material obtained by covering fibrous webs with macromolecular material, e.g. resins, rubber or derivatives thereof with macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
  • D06N3/10—Artificial leather, oilcloth or other material obtained by covering fibrous webs with macromolecular material, e.g. resins, rubber or derivatives thereof with macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds with styrene-butadiene copolymerisation products or other synthetic rubbers or elastomers except polyurethanes
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06P—DYEING OR PRINTING TEXTILES; DYEING LEATHER, FURS OR SOLID MACROMOLECULAR SUBSTANCES IN ANY FORM
  • D06P1/00—General processes of dyeing or printing textiles, or general processes of dyeing leather, furs, or solid macromolecular substances in any form, classified according to the dyes, pigments, or auxiliary substances employed
  • D06P1/44—General processes of dyeing or printing textiles, or general processes of dyeing leather, furs, or solid macromolecular substances in any form, classified according to the dyes, pigments, or auxiliary substances employed using insoluble pigments or auxiliary substances, e.g. binders

Definitions

• the present invention in some embodiments thereof, relates to digital printing and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a process of digitally forming a two-sided flocked synthetic fabric.
• the glue layer needs to be synchronized with the base fabric; when the base surface has a pattern with holes or cavities, there is a need to screen the glue, to avoid blocking the holes with glue that leads to flock fiber blocking, and loss of desired fabric properties, such as breathability, hand-feel, and texture.
• Flocking is the process of depositing many small fiber particles (called flock) onto a surface. It can also refer to the texture produced by the process, or to any material used primarily for its flocked surface. Flocking is used in many ways to give a surface a texture like velvet, velveteen, or velour, such as t-shirts, wallpaper, gift/jewelry boxes, and upholstery. Besides the application of velvety coatings to surfaces and objects, flocking in fabrics is a method of creating another surface.
• fibers or a layer of flocks are deposited over a substrate and affixed to the surface of the substrate with an adhesive, which is applied over the entire or over specific area(s) of the surface.
• the fibers are attached to the adhesive by the well-known methods: transfer from flocking paper by heat press, application of a high-voltage electric field, or even by simply pouring the fibers on top of the adhesive layer.
• the adhesive is applied on the surface by spreading it with simple mechanical means, such as roller, brush, pad, spray, etc.; in the screen-printing industry the adhesive layer can be applied by a mesh, as an additional layer on the surface; another, more flexible method is based on glue-sheets, where the desired image is first created on a sheet covered with glue, then transferred to the substrate by heat press, and finally the flocks are applied only to the glued areas to create flocking of the image, or an image made of flock. In all these cases, the result is usually a single coated area; or in more complex applications, a few relatively large areas, with an inaccurate and a single layer of the adhesive, and therefore, the resulting product is a single and uniform layer of flocks coating.
• the current standard implementations are based on “analog” and rough application of the adhesive that attaches the flocks to the surface.
• the resulting pattern or image is therefore inaccurate, and has the same flocking characteristics all over its flocked area(s) - including color or shade, hand-feel, appearance, density, etc., and in addition, the processes are not suitable for mass production since they involve complex and manual operations with multiple stages.
• BE 526940A provides clothing comprising between the outer fabric and the lining a fabric insert which is provided, for the purpose of imparting modified shapes, for example rounded shapes, to the clothing, in the appropriate places, with coverings or veneers and the shape of which is modified in the desired direction by cutouts at an acute angle, the sides of which are brought together and assembled (clamps), characterized in that the aforesaid coverings consist of a nonwoven, porous, isoelastic and stable in the diagonal direction, i.e.
• flexible adhesive agents and elastic such as vulcanized rubber and/or artificial rubber
• US 2691611A provides a process of producing an article with inner and outer piles of flock fibers protruding from an adhesive comprising depositing of a primary adhesive on a mold form, electrostatically embedding one end of flock fibers of a predetermined length in the primary adhesive, depositing a secondary adhesive between the fibers on and in contact with the primary adhesive and building up said deposit between the fibers to a predetermined thickness with the end portion of the fibers protruding from the secondary adhesive being uncovered and exposed, stripping the article from the mold form and removing the primary adhesive to expose the ends of the fibers which have been embedded.
• US 2951005A provides a method of forming a stretchable sheet material which comprises applying an adhesive to one surface of a permeable fibrous web of elastomeric fibers in random distribution and bonded together at their points of contact, stretching the fibrous web to open the interstices in at least the surface portion of the fibrous web and prevent blocking of the interstices by the adhesive, applying flocked fibers to the adhesive coated surface, curing the adhesive, securing a non-elastomeric, expansible textile fabric to the opposite surface of the fibrous web and allowing the fibrous web to relax whereby the flocked fibers form an uninterrupted napped surface coextensive with the web.
• US 3232819A provides breathable structures, and a sheet metal having front and rear major faces comprising an accretion of randomly arranged overlapping, intersection and interfitting solid filamentous strands having lengths predominately in the range of 200 to 2500 microns and diameters predominately 10 microns and less, and irregularly shaped nodular particles, both strands and particles, comprising normally solid polymer, being coalesced into a unified air- permeable structure wherein the rear face has the general appearance of the flesh side of tanned leather with an uneven lacy surface.
• US 3585099A provides a plastic sheet material having a textured, granular, relief surface is made, without necessity for resorting to surface molding or embossing to provide the relief effects, by partially embedding vinyl resin granules in the surface of a vinyl plastisol base layer; contoured automobile mats, or flat sheet goods with or without a textile or other reinforcing backing, may be made by the method; flock may be applied to the surface of the granules to give textile like effects.
• US 3922455A provides linear elements such as filaments having grafted nibs, which are generally fibrils and/or scales which can be flexible or rigid.
• the nibs can be randomly grafted onto the linear element or they can be inclined or oriented in one direction so as to offer relatively little resistance to penetration into a material and greater resistance to pulling out.
• the linear element with grafted nibs or a yam thereof can be used as a nonslip thread, as laces, and the like or they can be a component of woven and non-woven articles.
• GB 856389A provides a process for manufacturing impregnated woven or non-woven fibrous sheet material consists in applying an impregnant in the form of a foam on to one surface of a fibrous sheet material and in applying suction to the opposite surface of the sheet to suck the impregnant into the sheet.
• CA 1172001 A provides interlining of garments and method for the manufacture thereof, for stiffening parts of garments such as collars, cuffs sleeves shoulders and similar parts of outer garments.
• the interlinings are particularly intended for iron-on or sewn patches and comprise; an interlining backing material consisting of a fabric which may be woven, textile or knitted, or a fleece, or simply a plurality of fibers arranged side by side; textile flock fibers having a fiber length of 005 to 2.0 mm and a flock binder consisting at least in part of a polymer material which is applied to the backing material in the form of a screen like imprint.
• the screen like imprint may consist of a screen of dots, lines or small rods numbering from 140 to 700 per square inch.
• the flock binder includes micro dispersed filling materials fast to cleaning and abrasion resistant. The flocks are applied to the flock binder by an electro-static force field of direct current with a voltage within the range 20 to 100 KV.
• the present invention provides a process for generating fabrics using digital inkjet or other digital printing methodologies.
• the present invention provides a multilayered fabric that is made up of a bottom flock layer of small fibers which have been pre-disposed on a transient release layer, and further made up of one or more elastomer layers, and a top flock layer of the same or different flock fibers.
• the fabric has a variety of structural and composition properties, such as a soft, fuzzy surface, decorative and functional features, durability, water resistance, stain resistance, mildew resistance, and odor resistance.
• An exemplary process for producing a fabric may include, according to some embodiments:
• the release layer composition can be applied each time or it can be reusable for more than one print-job
• Inkjet printing at least 2 layers of an elastomer (optionally forming a colored image);
• Inkjet printing at least two additional layers of elastomer (optionally using different pattern and/or color and/or elastomer material, and/or add hardware items);
• top elastomer layer (optionally controlled by top elastomer layer to create tunable coating);
• the present invention provides an apparatus to carry out the process for generating fabrics using digital inkjet deposition or printing methodologies.
• An exemplary apparatus for producing a fabric may include, according to some embodiments:
• a support platform/substrate (optionally in the form of a loop belt);
• An elastomer digital printing station (optionally multi-color);
• a curing station by IR and/or hot air
• a process of forming a fabric which is carried out by: i. applying a release layer on a surface, wherein the release layer acts as a temporary mean for holding the flocks before an adhesive elastomer ink composition is applied thereon; ii. flocking the release layer using a first flock material to afford a bottom flock layer; iii. printing a first elastomer ink composition on said bottom flock layer to afford a first elastomer layer, wherein the elastomer ink composition also acts as an adhesive for the bottom flock layer; iv.
• the top flock layer can be uniform, gradual (greyscale) and/or pattered; vii. curing/drying the fabric, wherein this step sets the fabric in its final layered structure; and viii. releasing the fabric from the surface, wherein this step may also include cleaning the fabric from excess untethered flocks, thereby affording the fabric, wherein the surface on which the fabric is formed is devoid of a rim, a shoulder or any form of a raise boundary (the surface is flat; neither a mold nor a former is used in the process).
• the release layer composition includes a substance having a viscosity of 100-100,000 centipoises at a temperature of 25 °C.
• the substance in the release layer composition is selected from the group consisting of an aqueous polymer solution, a hydrogel, and a silicone-based substance
• all printing steps are effected digitally.
• all inks are printed digitally, and the immobilizing composition is applied by printing or spraying.
• the elastomer ink composition is printed essentially together with an immobilization composition.
• each elastomer ink layer can be identical, similar or different than the other elastomer ink layer, and the difference can be in any one of the following: elastomer type/concentration/formulation, colorant, area/pattern of coverage (each layer can be printed according to a different raster image processor (RIP) set of commands), partial drying parameters such as temperature, duration, the ingredients and the deposited amount of the immobilization composition. Adding layers on top of each other forms the base layer of the fabric as well as various 3D features thereon.
• each of the first elastomer ink composition, the second elastomer ink composition and/or the n Lh elastomer ink composition is individually colored.
• each of the first elastomer ink composition, the second elastomer ink composition and/or the n Lh elastomer ink composition is individually printed on the same or difference area.
• At least one of the digitally printing is effected with an immobilizing composition.
• the immobilizing composition is applied using a designated print channel and applicator (printhead or spray nozzle); the immobilizing composition can be applied before, during and/or subsequent to printing the elastomer ink composition, such that the elastomer ink composition coagulates upon contacting the immobilizing composition.
• the surface is a moving or a stationary printing pallet, a conveyer belt, or a plate.
• the release layer is in a form of a gel.
• the release layer is for a single use, for multiple-use or for continuous mode use.
• the process further includes placing at least one preformed object on or in the elastomer layer.
• the preformed object is selected from the group consisting of a zipper, a button, a button loop, a tack, a hook-and-loop fastener, an electronic circuit, an RFID tag, and a thermal glued strip.
• the process further includes, subsequent to step vi, heat pressing the top flock layer.
• the process further includes, prior to step vii, printing a colored ink composition on the top flock layer.
• the process further includes, rolling the fabric on a roller.
• the process further includes, collecting the fabric piece on a plate.
• an apparatus for executing the process provided herein and forming the fabric includes: a surface in the form of a moving or a stationary printing pallet, a conveyer belt, or a plate, having a release layer applied thereon; a first flocking station; a digital printing station; and a curing/drying device, wherein the surface on which the fabric is formed is devoid of a rim, a shoulder or any form of a raise boundary (the surface is flat; neither a mold nor a former is used in the apparatus).
• the apparatus further includes a second flocking station downstream of the digital printing station.
• the apparatus further includes a heat-press station downstream of the second flocking station.
• the apparatus further includes a release layer applicator for applying the release layer on the surface.
• the digital printing station includes means for applying at least one elastomer ink composition.
• FIGs. 1A-B present: (A) an illustration the exemplary embodiment presented above, wherein on the left side the process is presented as a flowchart, and on the right side the outcome of each step is depicted as a side view of the emerging fabric, and (B) a side-view illustration of a fabric created according to some embodiments of the present invention, having particular areas with specific physical attributes;
• FIG. 2 presents a side-view illustration of a part of an apparatus for continuous printing process of a fabric, according to embodiments of the present invention, showing that the entire process can be performed on a conveyer belt with the functional modules positioned along its path, wherein the fabric is created step by step until finally rolled as a final product;
• the present invention in some embodiments thereof, relates to digital printing and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a process of digitally forming a two-sided flocked synthetic fabric.
• the present invention provides a single flow process for creation of a base material (“base layer”) to achieve the required physical attributes with high accuracy in multiple areas (e.g., flexibility, strength, breathability, lightness, etc.).
• the curing and/or drying process needs to be accurate and efficient to support the complete process, therefore the conjugation of all components of the system is not merely a spatial conjugation but also a process controller conjugation, wherein machine commands link and coordinate the various stages of the process.
• the process provided herein, based on a designated apparatus (printing machine) is based on principles of digital inkjet printing, allowing high resolution and accuracy and full digital control over the entire process.
• the process provided herein starts with preparing the lower flocking layer, and continues to create the base layer by digitally printing the predetermined amount and shape of the elastomeric base layer, followed by applying flocks on the top side of the fabric.
• the present disclosure further includes a system (apparatus; machine; device) and a process to support the flocking steps and the digital printing; in addition, the apparatus may include two drying/curing stations: one for partial drying/curing to control and stabilize the freshly printed layers of the elastomer and the adhesive, and another one for full drying/curing of the final product providing optimal functional attributes of the elastomer/fabric.
• One of the main features on the present invention is the provision of a method and an apparatus for printing a fabric having a single- or double-sided flock coating and to control its qualities by modifying the physical attributes of the materials and controlling each step of the process: flocking, printing the base layer(s) and the curing and/or drying process, all in a single digitally-controlled process.
• a complete process for producing a fabric can be divided into two conceptual stages: (1) creation of the base (or core) layer, and (2) coating the base layer with fibers in one or two sides. In the herein-provided process the two stages are combined to a single flow process for a single- or a double-sided flocked fabric.
• a complete process for creating a synthetic fabric includes the base layer and flocks coating layers (one or two sides), and affords a smooth fabric with good hand feel without using a mold or a former.
• a solid support substrate in the form of a printing pallet, a conveyer belt, a plate, or the likes, to provide a platform on which the fabric will be formed, wherein the support substrate can be a sheet releasably attached to the printing pallet or the likes;
• a release layer on the support substrate optionally in the form of a gel, which optionally be reused for more than one cycle as part of the belt or pallet;
• the first and last layers of elastomer can be applied in colors (e.g., CMYC) to print decorations of the backgrounds of any desired image;
• HW items e.g., zippers, thermal glue, RFID tags, electronics circuits
• the process of forming the fabric is completed even without releasing the fabric form the support substrate, and the separation of the fabric from the support substrate is an optional step, according to some embodiments of the present invention.
• the surface can be, for a non-limiting example, a sheet which is releasably attached to the printing machine.
• the releasable support substrate can be detached from the printing machine at the end of the fabric forming steps, while the fabric is still attached thereto.
• the finished fabric is left on the releasable support substrate, and the product, which is a fabric on the support substrate, is optionally packaged or otherwise kept until the fabric is removed from the support substrate.
• the fabric is manufactured in one location, using a releasable substrate essentially as disclosed herein, and thereafter the support substrate and the fabric while it is still on the support substrate, are wrapped as a unified product for fabric protection reasons, and shipped to another location, where the fabric is peeled off the support substrate and used, or it is sold as is, still attached to the support substrate.
• support substrate is used interchangeably with the term “substrate”.
• the accurate thickness of the base layer defines the physical attributes of the final product (stretchability, strength, breathability, etc.) and should allow the flock fibers to remain in their locations (the more adhesive, the thicker the coating).
• the number of layers required to adhere the flocks is 2-4 ink layers (equivalent to 20-40 pm), and the number of layers for the base layer can be 10-100 ink layers (equivalent to 100-1000 pm).
• FIG. 1A presents an illustration the exemplary embodiment presented above, wherein on the left side the process is presented as a flowchart, and on the right side the outcome of each step is depicted as a side view of the emerging fabric.
• the process provided herein is flexible and can be easily changed and adapted between or during the fabrication run by changing its stages and/or their order. Applying the fluids to create the different layers is effected digitally with any drop-on-demand system (inkjet printheads, jetting valves, etc.) or with hybrid system by combining the digital systems with analog systems (fixed spray, aerosol, slot die, etc.); for example, the core or base layers can be applied first with spray or jetting valves, and then can be refined by accurate printheads in specific areas, with possible real-time control over the drop size, greyscale, frequency, drop pattern and the likes.
• any drop-on-demand system inkjet printheads, jetting valves, etc.
• analog systems fixed spray, aerosol, slot die, etc.
• the process provided herein is devoid of the use of a former or a mold for any of the steps, including the step of generating the release layer (the first flocking layer, bottom flocked surface), and any of the base layer strata.
• the surface on which the fabric is formed is devoid of a brim, a rim, a shoulder or any form of a raise boundary.
• FIG. 2 is a side-view illustration of a part of an apparatus for continuous printing process of a fabric, according to embodiments of the present invention, showing that the entire process can be performed on a conveyer belt with the functional modules positioned along its path, wherein the fabric is created step by step until finally rolled as a final product.
• the material of the release layer can be integral part of the belt (as a constant or renewable coating) or deposited on the carrying belt when and where it is needed.
• the belt can include a reusable release layer as an integral coating.
• the release layer can be renewed every cycle or when the existing layer can no longer support the process.
• the term “flocking” refers to the active application of many small/short fibers onto an adhesive-coated surface to create a velvet-like texture.
• the vibration promotes the density of fibers, which is critical to good fiber coating, and causes the flocking fibers to adhere to the adhesive and pack into a layer.
• This process is called a beater bar or gravity flocking system and is basically a mechanical process. With this process the flocking fibers are adhered to the surface of the substrate randomly, and each fiber adheres to the adhesive at a different depth, creating an irregular flocked surface.
• the process and apparatus provided herein are free of the need for a mold or a former to set the shape of the base layer.
• the printing platform be it a printing pallet or a belt, is used only to carry the workpiece but not to set its shape.
• the shape of the workpiece is set buy the printing pattern only, while the chemistry of the printing materials (immobilizing composition and the corresponding coagulating ink) and/or the partial curing/drying restrict the spreading of the inks while the emerging fabric is formed layer by later.
• the fabric formation process of the present invention is not limited to a former or a mold to create the base layer (the main body of the fabric), it is not limited to standalone piece of fabric, and can be used to form a continuous strip of fabric that can be rolled onto a roller cylinder at the end of the process.
• the process provided herein can be used to form one piece of fabric at a time, but not limited to the same piece in terms of the base layer, as this can be formed according to a digital pattern that is free of a mold and can change from piece to piece without limitation (refer to as one-offs) .
• the deposition of the elastomer in one or more layers creates the base layer of the fabric.
• the first layer of the elastomer adheres to the lower flocking layer and the other layers generate the main "body” and patterns, whereas the last layer may also act as the adhesive for the second (top) flocking.
• the deposition can be performed using any deposition method, such as spray, controlled valve jets or printheads, depending on the desired accuracy and quality of the end product.
• the base layer should be almost fully dried to enable the multi-layer structure (hence the partial curing should be deeper), whereas the upper and lower layers should be tackier, or like a gel, to enable the adherence of the flocks (hence the partial curing should be weaker).
• the heaters can be of any drying method that reacts with the elastomer in use, such as hot air, IR emitters, UV lamps, and the likes.
• an adhesive layer is printed over the films with the same elastomer or any other suitable ink.
• the partial curing and/or drying of this layer can be adapted to suit the required viscosity and wetness of this layer.
• the process is free of a mold or a former, and enjoys the benefit of applying a fixation/immobilizing composition before, during or soon after the elastomer ink is applied on the substrate, in order to limit spreading of the ink’s droplets when printed directly on the support substrate or over other still wet or not fully cured layers of ink.
• fixation/immobilizing composition is presented in, for example, U.S. Patent Nos. 9,725,848, 9,616,683, 10,472,533, 10,858,528, and 11,098,214, which are incorporated herein by reference.
• the immobilization of the ink composition is generally effected to stabilize a layer of ink at least until it is partially or fully cured. Since a layer of ink is a result of coalescence of a plurality of droplets of a highly fluid composition, such a layer can spread quickly on the surface of the substrate, particularly when attempting to form a thick base layer or add 3D features on parts of the base layer.
• the use of an immobilizing composition allows buildup of multi-layered structures by causing the liquid elastomer ink to coagulate instantly upon contacting the immobilizing composition.
• the instant “freezing” of the freshly printed layer prior to an optional partial curing/drying step frees the process from the limitation of a mold or a former, and allows the formation of highly delicate structural features at high spatial resolution which is unprecedented by any known fabric formation process hitherto.
• immobilization in the context of embodiment of the present invention is defined as elevating the viscosity of the adhesive/ink composition by 10-folds, 50-folds, 100-folds, 500-folds lOOO-folds or 2000-folds and more.
• immobilization when a given jetted composition is characterized by having a viscosity of 2-25 centipoises, it is defined as immobilized when its viscosity is elevated to about 2000 centipoises or higher as a result of congelation.
• the term “immobilization” is used to refer to a sharp increase in viscosity of a liquid, such that droplets of the liquid are less prone to flowing, soaking, bleeding, spreading and/or feathering.
• the coagulation of an elastomer ink composition can be afforded, according to some embodiments of the present invention, by adding to the elastomer ink composition one or more alkali- soluble property- sensitive agents (e.g., acid- sensitive or metal oxide- sensitive coagulants/agents), polypeptide-based property-sensitive agents (e.g., acid-sensitive coagulants/agents) and polysaccharide-based property- sensitive agents (e.g., divalent metal cation- sensitive coagulants/agents), or a combination thereof.
• the property- sensitive agent is an alkali-soluble agent or an acid-sensitive agent.
• the property-sensitive agent is an alkali-soluble agent, which may be associated with dispersing or emulsifying the adhesive substance in the elastomer ink composition.
• the alkali-soluble agent may also not be associated with dispersing the adhesive substance, or a combination thereof.
• a property-sensitive surfactant, dispersing agent or hydrophilic moiety can be alkali- soluble, wherein such an alkali-soluble surfactant, dispersing agent or the chemical attached hydrophilic moiety is sensitive to a decrease in pH, such as effected in the presence of an acid, whereupon contact an acid, the adhesive substance is no longer dispersed/emulsified in the carrier, causing the elastomer ink composition to coagulate (undergo sharp increase in viscosity).
• the surfactant, dispersing agent or the chemical attached hydrophilic moiety are property-sensitive, they are regarded as a part of the property-sensitive agent required in the elastomer ink composition, according to embodiments of the present invention.
• alkali-soluble agents include alkali- soluble dispersants, alkali-soluble surfactants, alkali-soluble polymers, alkali- soluble coagulants and alkali- soluble gelling agents.
• the alkali-soluble agent is an alkali-soluble polymer, such as, for example, an alkali- soluble acrylic polymer or alkali- soluble co-acrylic polymer such as poly(styrene/acrylic acid) polymer. It is noted herein, without being bound by any particular theory, that alkali- soluble acrylic or co-acrylic polymers are rendered soluble in alkaline conditions under- which the carboxylic groups in the polymer are charged; whereupon acidification of the aqueous medium containing the alkali- soluble polymer, the charged groups become neutral, leading to loss of solubility in aqueous media.
• an alkali- soluble acrylic polymer or alkali- soluble co-acrylic polymer such as poly(styrene/acrylic acid) polymer.
• the alkali-soluble propertysensitive agent is selected from the group consisting of an emulsified polyurethane, a polyurethane polymer, a polyether polymer, a polyester polymer, a polyacrylate polymer, a polyvinyl chloride polymer, a polyvinyl acetate polymer, a polyvinyl butyral polymer, an aminosilicon polymer and any salt, co-polymer or combination thereof.
• Commercially available alkali- soluble polymers include Joncryl 586, Joncryl 678, Joncryl 96, Joncryl 296 and Joncryl 538.
• Alkali- soluble (acid-sensitive) surfactants suitable for use in the context of some embodiments of the present invention, include cationic surfactants.
• exemplary cationic surfactant include, without limitation, commercially available surfactants such as BYK’s disperbyk® family, BYK “three-hundred” series, Air products Surfynol®&Dynol® family, BASF Plurafac® and Plurafac® family.
• the pH of the elastomer ink composition is maintained above neutral pH, namely the pH of the elastomer ink composition is higher than 7, higher than 7.5, higher than 8, higher than 8.5, higher than 9, higher than 9.5, higher than 10, higher than 10.5, or higher than 11.
• the pH of the elastomer ink composition can be set by the amount of all the alkali species therein, and can be further maintained at a desired level by use of an alkali pH-adjusting agent, such as a base of a buffer.
• the pH can be set to alkali levels by use of organic amines and/or ammonium hydroxide.
• Suitable applicators include high-output capacity spray nozzles that are typically used to cover relatively large area of the substrate at relatively low resolution, and inkjet printheads, the latter being more delicate and complex and used for accurate drop placement (high resolution) at relatively low-output capacity.
• nozzle is used herein to refer to the high-output low resolution liquid applicator
• printhead is used to refer to the low-output high resolution liquid applicator.
• Output capacity may also be affected by the relative speed by which the applicator moves over the substrate (or the substrate moves under the applicator) during the printing process, however the output capacity is determined while taking that relative motion into account by reporting the total amount of liquid that is being delivered to a unit area at a unit time.
• a typical printhead delivers ink according to the varied digitized color requirements at any given image segment (“pixel”), pallet motion and printhead frequency, while a typical spray nozzle delivers constant amount under constant pressure of liquid over time, varied by pallet motion.
• a spray output capacity of a nozzle ranges about 4-5 grams per square inch at a pressure of about 1.5 bar, while the jetting output capacity of a printhead ranges about 0.002-0.05 grams per square inch.
• the spray output capacity translate to about 1.44* pl per square inch or about 1.44 mg per square inch, and for using 80 pl drops, about 0.03 grams per square inch.
• the immobilizing composition presented herein is formulated so as to be suitable for application thereof in-line of an inkjet printing process.
• the immobilizing composition is designed to be applied directly on the substrate as part of the printing process rather than a pretreatment step before the printing process, which can take place off-line of the inkjet printing process.
• Such formulation incurs some limitations of the immobilizing composition, particularly in the sense that the composition is required to be suitable for inkjet applicators that form a part of the inkjet machinery, and particularly the parts that involve direct inkjet printing.
• the immobilizing composition when designed to be applied (sprayed) by a nozzle, its ingredients are selected and/or treated such that the composition exhibits or characterized by attributes suitable for the means of printing/spraying.
• An exemplary property is a pH-dependent dispensability and ionic-strength-dependent dispensability, also referred to herein as “alkaline dispensability”, wherein the change in pH (the aforementioned acidity or alkalinity property) or the ionic-strength of a solution changes the dispensability of one or more of its dispersed species.
• alkaline dispensability the change in pH (the aforementioned acidity or alkalinity property) or the ionic-strength of a solution changes the dispensability of one or more of its dispersed species.
• a property-adjusting agent that acts by adjusting the pH of the environment of a pH-sensitive agent is therefore a pH-adjusting agent.
• the pH of the immobilizing composition is acidic due to the nature of the property- adjusting agent, being an acid.
• the pH of the immobilizing composition is lower than 6.5, or ranges about 2-6, or about 2-5, or about 2-4.
• the pH of the immobilizing composition ranges about 3-6, 4- 6 or 5-6.
• the immobilizing composition may or may not contain a buffering agent.
• an immobilizing composition may be buffered by a suitable salt or weak base, such as ammonia/ammonium base or another volatile amine, to ensure the desired pH range while not leaving undesired traces on the substrate. Buffering may be accomplished by a buffering agent, such as, but not limited to a weak amine such as tris(hydroxymethyl aminomethane), also referred to as Tris or THAM.
• pH-adjusting agents include glycolic acid (volatile), acetic acid (volatile with some vinegar odor), lactic acid (dimerized at elevated temperatures), malic acid, ascorbic acid, maleic acid, benzoic acid and several polymeric acids (acidic polymers).
• Exemplary acidic polymers which can be used beneficially as polymeric propertyadjusting agent in the context of embodiments of the present invention, include, without limitation, polyacrylic acid, acidic alkoxylated polymer, poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulphonic acid), poly(acrylic acid-co-maleic acid), poly(butadiene-co-maleic acid), poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid), polymaleic acid, poly(methacrylic acid), poly(4- styrenesulfonic acid-co-maleic acid), and any mixture thereof.
• FIGs. 4A-C present black and white photographs of lace-like fabrics produced according to some embodiments of the present invention, showing lace with stitch effect (A), lace garment with reinforced edges around holes (B), and lace pieces with variable coating thereon (C).

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Laminated Bodies (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=90607738

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 2023
  • 2023-09-26 WO PCT/IL2023/051034 patent/WO2024075113A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2023-09-26 CN CN202380062125.4A patent/CN119968484A/zh active Pending
  • 2023-09-26 EP EP23874433.8A patent/EP4599121A1/de active Pending

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events